A Philippine boat collided with a Chinese Coast Guard ship

A Philippine boat on a resupply mission was struck by a Chinese Coast Guard vessel on Sunday, a day after another standoff in the disputed South China Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

A Chinese ship also fired “water cannons” at three Filipino vessels participating in the resupply mission, causing “severe damage to the engine” of one of the boats, Guard spokesman Jay Tarella told West Philippine Sea channel X-coasts. .

For its part, China accused a Filipino ship, on Sunday, of “deliberately colliding” with a Chinese Coast Guard ship.

The Chinese Coast Guard said in a statement that four Filipino ships on Sunday morning “illegally entered” the waters of the Spratly Islands, which are claimed by China, adding that a Filipino ship “ignored our multiple and severe warnings (…).”

The Chinese Coast Guard said in the press release that the Philippine ship “suddenly changed direction in an unprofessional and unsafe manner, and intentionally collided with our Coast Guard vessel No. 21556, which was on a regular law enforcement route, and caused a scratch.”

The incident, which occurred near Second Thomas Island, an atoll in the Spratly Islands, came a day after another confrontation between the Chinese coast guard who “obstructed” three Philippine government boats resupplying with water cannons. Luzon Island, Philippines.

Manila and Beijing have a long history of maritime disputes in the South China Sea, through which billions of dollars’ worth of goods pass every year.

Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including waters and islands near the coasts of its neighbors, and has ignored an international court ruling in 2016 rejecting the claim without a legal basis.

The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim many coral reefs and islets in this sea, some areas of which could contain rich oil reserves.